Comment Re: What's the motivation? (Score 1) 181
That's one of the fun things with a CANDU reactor; they don't meltdown.
Submission + - Activision abuses DMCA to take knock indie game entirely off Steam
He Who Has No Name writes: We've seen brain-dead, overzealous, and entirely over-automated DMCA takedown requests bring down music and videos, but this may be the first case of an entire video game being knocked out. Earlier today David Prassel, creator of Trek Industries and developer of the not-without-controversy ORION: Dino Horde / Prelude and the early-access Guardians of ORION, posted that his current project had been entirely removed from Steam after a questionable DMCA allegation from Activision. Prassel explains further, "We've made Steam our primary platform, but this has put a definite scare into us going forward considering our entire livelihood can be pulled without a moments notice, without any warning or proper verification. I cannot even confirm that the representative from Activision is a real person as absolutely no results pop up in any of my searches." Image comparisons against at least two of the weapon models claimed to be infringing were posted by Prassel and in at least one thread on reddit in /r/pcmasterrace.
What's more, it appears Activision is alleging not a vertex-for-vertex and texel-for-texel theft and duplication of the Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3 2D & 3D art assets, but in fact an infringing artistic similarity and design of separately created art content — something that the DMCA does not cover (and which more would likely fall under copyright or possibly trade dress).
Since this takedown falls directly in the middle of the Steam Summer Sale — which probably is not a coincidence — and will profoundly impact Trek Industry's potential sales, does this make a case for substantial reform in the appeals & response process in DMCA takedown demands, adding a due process and rebuttal window to prevent takedown requests from being essentially weaponized?
What's more, it appears Activision is alleging not a vertex-for-vertex and texel-for-texel theft and duplication of the Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3 2D & 3D art assets, but in fact an infringing artistic similarity and design of separately created art content — something that the DMCA does not cover (and which more would likely fall under copyright or possibly trade dress).
Since this takedown falls directly in the middle of the Steam Summer Sale — which probably is not a coincidence — and will profoundly impact Trek Industry's potential sales, does this make a case for substantial reform in the appeals & response process in DMCA takedown demands, adding a due process and rebuttal window to prevent takedown requests from being essentially weaponized?
Comment Re: Do we care? (Score 1) 247
This is also the case in Canada, including the provinces with heavily regulated insurance industries.
Jolla Partners With SSH To Create Sailfish Secure 30
First time accepted submitter muckracer writes Finnish mobile company Jolla will be working with Finland's SSH Communications to offer another version of its SailfishOS platform with stronger security credentials. The partnership was announced today at Jolla's press conference in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress trade show. SSH will be providing comms encryption and key management to Sailfish Secure.
Comment Art (Score 2) 133
Art is always in the eye of the beholder.
Comment Re:Do a test to find the psychopaths/sociopaths... (Score 2) 204
If I recall the one study correctly it was that successful CEOs often display some of the traits of an anti-social personality. Let me point out one thing, the moral ambivalence, from an anti-social personality, tends to lend itself well to strategic decisions. The risk-reward equation is much simpler when there isn't an emotional factor.
Submission + - The (Big) Problem with RIM
An anonymous reader writes: Research in Motion, by all accounts, had a terrible week. But things might get even worse.
The Canadian technology company posted dismal quarterly earnings numbers, missing revenue and sales targets, while margins continued to shrink.
Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis conceded the PlayBook had been thwarted by a lack of apps and content, not necessarily by a weak platform. Like Apple with its iOS, and Microsoft with Windows, creating a successful platform will be dependent on the eco-system it supports, but RIM hasn't shown ability to foster that.
The Canadian technology company posted dismal quarterly earnings numbers, missing revenue and sales targets, while margins continued to shrink.
Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis conceded the PlayBook had been thwarted by a lack of apps and content, not necessarily by a weak platform. Like Apple with its iOS, and Microsoft with Windows, creating a successful platform will be dependent on the eco-system it supports, but RIM hasn't shown ability to foster that.
A Digital Picture Frame Without the Lock-In? 96
The Cisco Kid asks: "My mom, bless her soul, doesn't quite get the concept of digital photography. She always complains that we never print them out for her, and gets completely flustered at the idea of looking at them on a computer. I'm thinking of getting a digital photo frame for her, only I can't seem to find one that fits the bill. I am aware of the possibility of building one, and may end up going that way (most likely using a laptop), but I'm really hoping I can find a consumer one that meets my needs — and that's where things get tricky." One of the major features that is required is the ability to update the frame over the network, without the need of any third party software. Has anyone seen a digital picture frame that doesn't tie you to a piece of proprietary software or a proprietary network?
Feed Dream-Racer lets disabled kids race RC cars (engadget.com)
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables
[Via MedLaunches]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Submission + - IBM: Couldn't Fire 150K US Workers If We Wanted To
theodp writes: "In an e-mail worthy of the Dilbert Hall of Fame, IBM execs responded to Robert X. Cringely's Project LEAN layoff rumors, reassuring employees by pointing out that they've already wiped out too many U.S. jobs to be able to lay off another 150,000. Big Blue's employment peaked around 1985, when it had about 405,000 workers who were acclimated to a long tradition of lifetime employment. IBM puts its current global workforce at 355,766, with a 'regular U.S. population' of less than 130,000."
France Launches Anti-Spam Platform 128
njondet writes "French-law.net reports that the French government has just launched 'Signal Spam', an anti-spam platform created in association with public entities and private companies, such as Microsoft. Internet users will be able to report spam messages by mailing them to this platform which will act as a centralised monitor of spamming activities. The platform will generate a blacklist and help initiate prosecutions against spammers."
Feed First Antibody That Detects Only Known Cause Of Lou Gehrig's Disease Developed (sciencedaily.com)
Researchers have developed the first antibody that detects the only known cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a progressive and usually fatal neurological disorder that attacks the nerves and muscles. Currently there is no known cure or effective treatments.
Feed Long-range Eye Tracker Enables Selling Ads 'By The Eyeball' (sciencedaily.com)
A Queen's University Computing professor's invention -- recently unveiled at Google's corporate headquarters in California -- provides a unique, affordable way for advertisers to track the effectiveness of their messages by measuring how many people are looking at their billboards and screens.
Comment Documentation (Score 1) 523
I would tend to say that complexity isn't a downfall in FOSS. Documentation can help many end users deal with complex software functions, even if they do not possess the knowledge of how the functions work.
The arguement TFA provides seems to come up fairly often, as it was already here awhile ago.
The arguement TFA provides seems to come up fairly often, as it was already here awhile ago.
Coffee Maybe Not a Health Drink! 381
perbert writes "Canadian researchers have published a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicating that excess coffee drinking (4+ cups a day) could lead to an increased risk of heart disease if you have the wrong gene. In light of other studies linking antioxidants in coffee to a reduction in heart disease, who is right? Or will they cancel out in a coffee death-match?"
